65 Games In, Phillies Should Blow It Up

June 14, 2014

By Steve Bohnel
@SteveSportsGuy1

Just when the Fightin' Phils give you a reason to believe, they give you yet another example of why GM Ruben Amaro Jr. should be looking to trade whoever he can before the MLB trade deadline on July 31.

Home plate rule needs further review

April 21, 2014

By Steve Bohnel
@SteveSportsGuy1

The Phillies were in the second of a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies. In the bottom of third inning, a play at the plate illustrated one of the key additions to the MLB this season: expanded instant replay.

But this play was different. Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, who had singled to start the inning, was on his way home trying to score the first run of the game. Chase Utley fired the ball home. Ruiz blocked the plate, and Arenado was out...for a few minutes.

An emptying bank

April 16, 2014

By Steve Bohnel
@SteveSportsGuy1

Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons had just smacked a hanging slider from Phils reliever B.J. Rosenberg into the left field bleachers at Citizens Bank Park.  Droves of fans departed from their seats with the score now 5-1 in favor of Atlanta in the eighth inning.

Not that it was exactly a sell-out crowd in the first place.  The attendance at the Bank on April 14 was 26,516—far short of the full capacity of nearly 44,000. 

This isn’t a new thing that has been happening just this year. Ever since 2010, when season attendance peaked at an all-time high at 3,777,322, the Phillies have seen a decline in the category, dropping down to 3,012,403 in 2013.

Phillies Week in Review 3/17-3/23: Rollins on the hot seat, Asche wins out, and more injuries

March 23, 2014

By Andrew Sifari

@Wild_Sifari

Record: 2-2-1

                   3/19                           3/20                   3/20                        3/21                          3/23

                     L                               W                      L                              T                             W

Games:  PHI @ TOR           PHI @ HOU      PHI vs.  TOR            PHI vs. BOS            PHI vs. MIN 

                  6     -   11              6    -      3           1       -    3                 2     -    2                  5   -      1           

This week was eventful for the Phillies, whose chances for winning have gotten no better as of late. Speculation swirled after a report from ESPN’s Buster Olney suggested that the Phillies are open to trading shortstop Jimmy Rollins. General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. vehemently denied this shortly afterwards. Rollins would do the same later, citing his full no trade clause.

It was announced in the beginning of the week that Cliff Lee would start on Opening Day for the Phillies. This would be the second opening day start of Lee’s career, the other coming in 2009 as a member of the Indians. Lee went 14-8 with a 2.87 ERA for the Phillies last season so, with Cole Hamels out, it probably wasn’t a hard decision to go with Lee.

From the Review: The Rollins situation mirrors that of McNabb's in Philly

March 20, 2014

By Nick Tricome
@itssnick215

Donovan McNabb will forever be regarded as one of the better quarterbacks in Philadelphia football history, but even he was forced to deal with fledgling fan support during his final years as people grew weary of his attitude and personality.

McNabb overstayed his welcome in Philadelphia and it seems now the same can be said of Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

What to look for from Gonzalez

February 15, 2014

By Andrew Sifari

As Spring Training begins, one of the big question marks for the Phillies entering camp is Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez. The Cuban right-hander, signed to a three-year, $12 million deal last August, has been the subject of much speculation in the time since teams began scouting him in earnest last April.

Bats a question heading into Spring Training

February 13, 2014

By Steve Bohnel

Spring Training is just around the corner,with the Phillies' pitchers and catchers already reporting.

One of the biggest problems for Philadelphia last season, however, was probably their offense. Finishing in the bottom half of the Major Leagues in batting average (21st at .248), runs (26th at 610), and on-base percentage (24th at .306). The Phillies have some work to do once April rolls around.